Strive Masiyiwa Goes To Hollywood To Acquire Some Content For Kwesé TV

Is this the part where we say watch out DStv?

On a post on social media, Strive Masiyiwa (founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Global) mentioned how he was on his way to Los Angeles to sign some content deals for Kwesé TV.

I’m sure by now you know what Kwesé is, I mean with all that BAZ-Kwese and now Dr Dish-Kwese drama, who wouldn’t? However, in case you for some weird reason don’t, Kwese is a brand of Econet Media Limited, the media arm of Econet and has been making waves in the media industry – whether because it’s a “Zimbabwean brainchild”; or because it’s competition to the monopoly DStv in Zimbabwe; or simply because it’s more convenient to pay for (since DStv wont accept bond notes), the bottom line is people are flocking towards it.

However, despite all this, some have been adamant about not leaving DStv, main reason being content. Content, content and content. I mean after all, entertainment really has to do with content. Kwese, obviously as a relatively new kid on the block has nothing on DStv in terms of content especially in sports and by sports I mean soccer. However, it seems they are stopping at nothing to acquire more.

Now, Strive is flying to the home of blockbuster movies, Hollywood to sign some partnerships for Kwese TV. Here’s what he said:

I’m on my way to LA [home of Hollywood] next week and Silicon Valley [home of tech giants] all next week. Taking my top guys. We are going to sign some blockbuster partnerships for Kwese TV that have been in the works for months.
It’s time to take this game to a new level!
You know I don’t get excited easily…but I’m excited, very excited.

Of course this is quite exciting for us but remember Kwese TV prides in being a pan African media company, which means we are right to expect more of African content from it. I remember when Kwese first entered the scene people (beyond anything else) saw employment creation particularly in the entertainment industry.

People, Zimbabweans especially (not too sure about other African countries) were excited to know that finally, local content and/or the local film and entertainment industry had a chance to shine. Well, I don’t know what such trips then mean for local content but then again, at this stage (where Kwese still has a lot of capacity) we cannot really say these mutually exclusive. We still can get both.